LETTER: AR15 is personal defense weapon, not an assault or automatic rifle

The term AR15 does not mean assault rifle or automatic rifle. The AR term actually stands for Armalite Rifle, which was the company that developed it in the 1950s. Armalite later sold out to Colt.The AR15 is the civilian version of the military M16, which is either semi-automatic or full automatic. Civilian firearms only allow one shot per trigger pull. Fully automatic weapons are legal for civilians under strict background checks and fees for a license.

The Defense Intelligence Agency defines assault rifles as short, compact, select fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges. In other words, assault rifles are battlefield rifles which can fire automatically. Assault rifles have also been defined as being designed for military use.

DHS has contracted with gun manufacturers for 7,000 NATO "personal defense weapons." These weapons have a requirement for a 5.56x45mm NATO select fire firearm suitable for personal defense use in close quarters and/or when maximum concealment is required.

This information is available under HSCEMS-12-R-00011 (Google).

It should be noted that nowhere in the above document the term assault rifle is used. Only personal defense weapon.

It appears those who have been demonizing this particular rifle as an assault rifle need to read the referenced document.

Since this rifle DHS is or has already purchased and being capable of full automatic fires is described as a personal defense weapon, there is no logical reason for the anti-Second Amendment groups to continue referring to this rifle as an assault rifle.

I hope this will clarify some of the misinformation pertaining to the proper definition of this rifle.

CHARLES CURETON

Clarksville 37040

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LETTER: AR15 is personal defense weapon, not an assault or automatic rifle

The term AR15 does not mean assault rifle or automatic rifle. The AR term actually stands for Armalite Rifle, which was the company that developed it in the 1950s.

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